Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between North Brunswick, NJ and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $2,453 in North Brunswick, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

North Brunswick, NJ, United States
Phuket, Thailand
North Brunswick, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,453
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in North Brunswick, NJ and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in North Brunswick, NJ and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,453 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $1,294 in Phuket.

  • North Brunswick, NJ $2,453
  • Phuket $1,294

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,704 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $2,204 in Phuket.

  • North Brunswick, NJ $3,704
  • Phuket $2,204

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,955 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $3,115 in Phuket.

  • North Brunswick, NJ $4,955
  • Phuket $3,115

Living in North Brunswick, NJ is roughly 90% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: North Brunswick, NJ is 81% above, Phuket is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$4.39 ฿148
360.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 $61.1
$32.31 ฿1,086
89.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$8.70 ฿293
36.78%
Cappuccino
$3.03 $3.03
$2.72 ฿91.6
11.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.93 ฿31.28
181.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 $1.18
$0.50 ฿16.79
136.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.53 ฿85.1
164.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 $6.04
$3.63 ฿122
66.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.74 ฿58.5
-36.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.45 ฿48.77
10.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.70 $5.70
$1.50 ฿50.5
280.00%
Eggs
$4.77 $4.77
$2.17 ฿73.0
119.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 $13.22
$19.09 ฿642
-30.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.61 $16.61
$3.40 ฿114
388.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$10.90 ฿366
49.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$2.94 ฿98.9
30.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.69 ฿56.9
12.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$2.19 ฿73.8
94.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.15 $6.15
$2.12 ฿71.4
190.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.46 ฿49.03
123.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.37 ฿45.99
140.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.08 ฿36.17
116.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.55 ฿18.34
265.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.00 $15.00
$4.43 ฿149
238.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 $17.93
$18.25 ฿614
-1.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.77 ฿59.6
48.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 $4.09
$2.88 ฿96.8
42.01%
🚌 Getting Around
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.45 ฿48.66
33.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.6 $53.6
$54.9 ฿1,845
-2.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.51 ฿50.9
103.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.78 ฿26.08
176.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.72 $42.72
$3.84 ฿129
1012.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.49 ฿50.0
-27.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$26.9K ฿903.7K
3.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.3K ฿885.7K
1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 $128
$97.8 ฿3,288
30.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.11 $47.11
$11.29 ฿380
317.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.6 $57.6
$17.19 ฿578
235.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.45 $38.45
$68.3 ฿2,297
-43.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.92 ฿367
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.03 $13.03
$7.43 ฿250
75.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,704 $2,704
$530 ฿17.8K
409.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K $15.3K
$18.8K ฿631.4K
-18.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 $54.2
$61.7 ฿2,073
-12.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 $50.9
$28.25 ฿950
80.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 $120
$96.0 ฿3,228
25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 $134
$86.8 ฿2,919
54.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,555 $1,555
$721 ฿24.2K
115.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 $1,199
$509 ฿17.1K
135.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,950 ฿65.6K
27.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 $2,160
$1,397 ฿47.0K
54.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,084 $3,084
$4,192 ฿140.9K
-26.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,485 $2,485
$3,298 ฿110.9K
-24.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Brunswick, NJ
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$492 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.01
5.57
25.85%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: November 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
North Brunswick, NJ
$1.2K
Phuket
$509 57.6% $690
Groceries & Markets
North Brunswick, NJ
$426
Phuket
$267 37.3% $159
Eating Out
North Brunswick, NJ
$295
Phuket
$120 59.4% $175
Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Brunswick, NJ
$232
Phuket
$126 45.6% $106
Clothing & Footwear
North Brunswick, NJ
$162
Phuket
$123 24.1% $39
Getting Around
North Brunswick, NJ
$75
Phuket
$66 12.1% $9.1
Sport & Entertainment
North Brunswick, NJ
$65
Phuket
$83 28.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,555 in North Brunswick, NJ and $721 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61 in North Brunswick, NJ vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $267 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 North Brunswick, NJ
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
08:29 8:29 AM
20:29 8:29 PM
12 h ahead of North Brunswick, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
43,905
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.69 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • North Brunswick, NJ Phuket 14,590 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • North Brunswick, NJ
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
North Brunswick, NJ vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than North Brunswick, NJ?
Phuket is about 47% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $3,680 in North Brunswick, NJ and $1,940 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between North Brunswick, NJ and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,555 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $721 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,704 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $530 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in North Brunswick, NJ or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $61 in North Brunswick, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in North Brunswick, NJ or in Phuket?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $2,453 in North Brunswick, NJ, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in North Brunswick, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in North Brunswick, NJ or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, North Brunswick, NJ or Phuket?
Safety-wise, North Brunswick, NJ and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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